During AeroIndia 2025, Boeing Defence India managing director Nikhil Joshi tells our editor N. C. Bipindra that the American company’s India sourcing has grown five times in a decade, with over 300 suppliers. Boeing also employs 6.500 engineers, based at its engineering and technology centre at Bengaluru and Chennai.

Ques. In your view, what specific capabilities of the P-8I make it an essential asset for the Indian Navy, especially in the context of evolving maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region?

Ans. The Indian variant of the P-8, known as the P-8I, is designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. With a fleet of 12 P-8Is, the Indian Navy has significantly enhanced its ability to secure and protect its vast coastline while playing a larger role in regional maritime security. This patrol aircraft, a critical asset in the Navy’s fleet, has logged over 40,000 flight hours since its induction. The P-8I’s ISR capabilities have also proven invaluable during disaster relief and humanitarian missions. Overall, the P-8I has provided the Indian Navy with a decisive edge in the strategically vital Indian Ocean region. With a range of over 1,200 nautical miles, the P-8I enables the Navy to conduct extensive maritime surveillance, covering areas from the East coast of Africa to the busy trade routes of the Malacca Strait.

Ques. How does Boeing’s integrated logistics support enhance mission readiness for India’s defence forces?

Ans. At Boeing, our integrated logistics support and long-term Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) solutions ensure high fleet availability and operational readiness for platforms like the P-8I, Apache, and Chinook. These solutions reduce lifecycle costs, minimize downtime, and enhance warfighting effectiveness. For example, the Globemaster Integrated Support Program (GISP) for the Indian Air Force‘s C-17 fleet has set benchmarks for efficiency and availability. We are proud to provide our defence customers with solutions that increase mission readiness while fostering local industry participation, aligned with the Government of India‘s ‘Make in India‘ initiative. What truly stands out is the overwhelmingly positive feedback we are receiving from our defence customers in India on the significant value our platforms and support ecosystem bring to their missions, which fills us with pride and deep satisfaction.

Ques. How is Boeing advancing India’s self-reliance in aerospace and defence sustainment?

Ans. The BIRDS programme, launched in 2021, plays a pivotal role in enhancing India’s self-reliance in aerospace by enabling engineering, maintenance, skilling, repair, and sustainment services for defence and commercial aircraft. The programme is anchored by a robust MRO ecosystem built through a network of local suppliers, including Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which ensures rapid turnaround times, improved platform availability, and superior customer satisfaction. By setting industry benchmarks for maintenance and operational efficiency, BIRDS strengthens India’s defence capabilities while reducing reliance on foreign support. Additionally, it fosters economic growth through job creation, exports, and foreign investment, aligning with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat‘ (Self-Reliant India) initiative to achieve self-sufficiency in defence and aerospace.

Ques. How is Boeing strengthening its supplier network to support India’s aerospace and defence ambitions?

Ans. Boeing has significantly scaled its supplier network in India, growing from US$250 million in sourcing nearly a decade ago to US$1.25 billion annually. Our network of over 300 suppliers includes many MSMEs that have advanced to deliver complex assemblies and components. By fostering local expertise and investing in cutting-edge technologies like full-size determinant assembly and robotics, we are empowering Indian suppliers to support global aerospace and defence requirements. This growth underscores our ‘Make in India for the World‘ philosophy and reinforces our long-standing partnership with India’s aerospace ecosystem.

Ques. What role does the Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center (BIETC) play in developing solutions for defence platforms used by armed forces around the world?

Ans. Boeing is driving aerospace innovation in India through the expertise of over 6,500 engineers at the Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center (BIETC) in Bengaluru and Chennai. This talented workforce supports key defence platforms, including the F/A-18 Super Hornet, P-8I, F-15, KC-46, AH-64 Apache, CH-47 Chinook, and other aerospace programs, not just for India, but for the world.

With a substantial portion of Boeing’s global talent pool situated in India, BIETC is instrumental in delivering customized digital solutions for Indian customers while also generating intellectual property locally. It plays a key role in supporting Boeing Defence India (BDI) by addressing critical engineering requirements, driving operations and service engineering, fostering co-development, and advancing indigenous aerospace programs. To stay ahead of evolving needs, we continuously invest in skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling programs, empowering our workforce to deliver world-class solutions and contribute to India’s aerospace growth.

In January 2024, the Indian Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) inaugurated our 43-acre engineering and technology campus in Bengaluru, built with a US$200 million investment. As Boeing’s largest facility outside the US, it serves as a hub for advanced R&D, digital innovation, and engineering excellence across defence, space, and commercial sectors. Our engineers utilise cutting-edge technologies such as AI, Machine Learning, IoT, Cloud, Model-Based Engineering, and Additive Manufacturing, with a steadfast focus on quality, safety, and productivity.

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